How Illinois’ concealed carry law compares

Saturday

Mar 29, 2014 at 10:00 AM

By Tobias WallGateHouse Media Illinois

While Illinois’ concealed carry law is considered the strictest of its kind in the country, a regional breakdown illustrates the patchwork of provisions among concealed carry laws in Illinois and neighboring states.

Illinois and all of its neighbors have laws prohibiting guns in elementary and secondary schools. The same also is true in their respective capital buildings and grounds.

However, provisions in Missouri and Kentucky law allow the members of any government body to carry firearms during a meeting of that body.

Firearms are prohibited in casinos in Illinois, Missouri, Iowa and Indiana. Kentucky and Wisconsin laws do not mention casinos.

Iowa and Indiana are the only neighboring states that don’t prohibit carrying firearms into police stations. Iowa alone does not prohibit carrying firearms in courthouses.

Iowa and Indiana also have no provisions in their laws prohibiting guns in taverns. Illinois, Missouri and Kentucky do prohibit carrying guns in establishments that make more than half of their money through the sale of alcohol. Wisconsin law doesn’t mention taverns, but a provision there allows business owners to prohibit firearms if they choose.

Iowa and Indiana specifically prohibit carrying firearms on their respective state fairgrounds. Illinois and Missouri have provisions in the law banning guns in “amusement parks.” The laws in Kentucky and Wisconsin are silent on the subject.

Carrying firearms on university campuses is prohibited in Illinois, Missouri and Iowa. In Wisconsin, it’s prohibited in university buildings but not on grounds. Kentucky and Indiana have no provisions in their laws regarding college campuses.

Only Illinois and Missouri bar guns from hospitals, nursing homes and mental health facilities. Wisconsin law prohibits guns in mental health facilities only, while laws in Iowa, Indiana and Kentucky do not mention hospitals.

While Illinois and Iowa prohibit carrying firearms in public parks, Indiana, Kentucky and Wisconsin do not. In Missouri, state law suggests that local officials can choose to prohibit firearms in public places if they wish.

Only Illinois and Missouri prohibit carrying firearms into arenas or stadiums.

Missouri is the only neighboring state with a provision on carrying in churches — it is prohibited without permission.

Illinois and Wisconsin prohibit firearms at special events, with Wisconsin prohibiting guns at any special event that lasts less than three weeks and charges admission. In Illinois, carrying firearms is not allowed at any gatherings held in public that require special use permits or at any events that serve alcohol.

Some states have provisions in the laws unique to them.

In Missouri, citizens cannot carry a weapon within 25 feet of a polling place on Election Day.

Indiana prohibits carrying firearms on any Army Corps of Engineers installations or grounds, and Kentucky prohibits carrying firearms on any Tennessee Valley Authority property.

Indiana takes its airport law a step further, stating that firearms are not allowed on commercial flights in Indiana airspace.

Illinois is the only state that prohibits carrying firearms on public transportation, at libraries, zoos, museums or in any nuclear facility.

Additionally, Illinois is the only state in the country that requires a permit to own firearms of any kind.

Laws regarding immunity from prosecution in the use of deadly force in self-defense vary throughout the region, too.

Indiana and Kentucky have “Stand Your Ground” laws, which protect individuals who use deadly force in the defense of oneself, a third party or property if a person fears for his life.

Illinois, Missouri and Wisconsin have “Castle Doctrine” laws. Castle Doctrine laws include the same criteria as Stand Your Ground laws, but they limit the protection to one’s person, dwelling and property. Stand Your Ground laws don’t mention dwellings or property, allowing for a potentially wider scope of immunity.

Iowa has neither a Castle Doctrine law nor a Stand Your Ground law, but provisions in the criminal code there state that a person has no duty to retreat during an attack at his or her home.